Cranes for aviation industry

Large parts have to be regularly lifted, turned and positioned in the aviation industry. In many cases, the requirements that need to be met by the cranes and hoists used in these applications demand specially developed solutions. In close co-operation with the operators, this often results in key developments that also attract a great deal of attention in other industry sectors.

Where complex components are developed as part of a complete product, loads generally have to be handled gently and precisely. In addition, loads with a large surface area usually have to be suspended from several points to prevent them from twisting. This requires a sophisticated combination of functions and mechanisms that can be achieved with a combination of crane motions including traversing crabs and travelling hoists. Frequency inverters ensure high positioning accuracy as well as gentle and variable acceleration and braking. Safety functions such as synchronised operation, light barriers and safety brakes integrated into the rope hoists ensure a high level of installation safety and reliability for the operator and the load.

Telescoping platform installations maintain, overhaul and apply the paint finish to the aircraft. They can approach any position of the plane precisely and without difficulty. Maintenance personnel can walk along the spacious platform with anti-collision protective mesh fencing, which prevents damage to the plane.

Cranes designed for maintenance of aircraft in a hangar with a curved roof. The cranes are optimised to cover the aircraft being worked on in the hangar.

We have supplied the cranes and hoists used during jet engine maintenance since 1972. These range from simple cranes in a workshop to advanced maintenance systems based on the Kanban principle and from the engine test cells to complete crane maintenance facilities including the transportation of the jet engines.

MHE-Demag hoists handle a jet engine in an engine test cell however, the new jet engines have increased in size, and MHE-Demag has been involved in a number of new engine test cells that need to handle the bigger jet engines in the A 380 series of aircraft.

A curtain wall crane separates part of a hangar, allowing one aircraft to be painted without the paint affecting surrounding jets.

A fully-automatic storage crane with slewing crab is used for storing and retrieving sections of an aircraft. Sections are handled with a Demag suspension crane. Crane girder overhangs make it possible to pick up and deposit loads directly beside the wall of a building.